Xinzhou arts centre and opera

A lotus flower on a celestial mountain

Concept

The Xinzhou cultural centre is in the region of one of Buddhism’s five sacred mountains. It lies in the middle of a large urban composition, with the town hall to the north, two museums to the south and a sports centre to the west.

Its abstract, asymmetrical shape was inspired by the lotus flower. The folded volumes reflect the bright, changing light, giving a mysterious aspect to the architecture. The base is composed of different levels, raising the main building up, offering it a spiritual dimension in reference to the “sumeru”, the sacred mountain which represents the centre of the universe for Buddhists.

Program

The Xinzhou arts centre combines two public facilities, the first being the Xinzhou grand theatre and the second, the centre for popular arts.

The programme includes a 1200-seat theatre and a 600-seat hall, as well as workshops for painting, music and literature. The base of the structure contains shops, cinemas and technical rooms.